Page 47 of Highland Queen

Chapter 16

That afternoon, as we prepared to leave Scone, a rider—one of Banquo’s men—arrived. Banquo, who had already gone to Glamis, wasn’t there. I flagged the man down.

“Sir, do you have a message for Lord Banquo?”

The rider nodded. “Yes, my queen. Lord Banquo, he…” he began then paused.

“You may tell me anything you would tell Lord Banquo,” I said, reassuring the man. For once, I hoped news of my relationship with Banquo would help soften the situation.

It did.

“Lord Banquo sent some of us out looking for a man.”

“Tavis? Did you find him?”

The man lowered his gaze. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

For a moment, I felt like my heart stopped beating.

I grabbed the man by his arm. “And?”

“He was close to Lady Madelaine’s castle but senseless. He was badly injured. I took him there, left him in the care of that house, then came straight here afterward.”

“Bless you, sir,” I told him. “Go, get some refreshment. Thank you,” I said then turned to go.

“Your Majesty,” the man called. “You should hurry.”

I swallowed hard then nodded. I rushed across the courtyard to Madelaine and Fife who looked like they were almost ready to depart. I forced myself to stay calm. It wouldn’t do for me to show my worry. As it was, Madelaine was going to be in a fit of distress.

“Corbie?” Madelaine called.

“Aunt, we must go to your castle at once. A rider has come. Tavis has been taken to your keep. He is injured.”

Madelaine gasped.

Turning, Fife snapped his fingers and called to his men to make ready. “We’ll ride together,” he told Madelaine. “Now.”

Not waiting another moment, I grabbed the reins of the blood bay and mounted. Wheeling the horse around, I trotted over to Killian and the other Moray men. “We need to leave now,” I told them.

Working quickly, the men finished readying their horses and supplies then mounted.

I rode back to Madelaine. She was watching Fife’s men make ready. Her brow furrowed, and she chewed her lip.

“Thane,” I called to Fife who turned and looked at me. “Moray is ready to ride. We shall go ahead.”

Fife inclined his head to me.

“Let’s go,” I told Madelaine.

I nodded to Killian, and our small party set out.

We rode quickly across the land. I wanted to ride harder than I did. I knew that during the battle I had not been careful. But now that I knew I was with child, I hesitated. After all, I had already lost a wee one. I didn’t want to risk another, especially Banquo’s child.

Regardless, we rode briskly across the land and arrived at the castle in the early evening.

I was surprised when we were met by a familiar face, Ute.

“My lady,” she called to Madelaine. She rushed to my aunt and helped her down.

---